Manchester(Online): Anthony Joshua knocked-out Eric Molina to confirm a contest with Wladimir Klitschko at Wembley Stadium on April 29.
Anthony Joshua needed three calculated, patient rounds to leave Eric Molina trailing in his wake and set up a colossal clash against Wladimir Klitschko.
With Klitschko sat ominously at ringside, Joshua was able to ignore the mighty occasion that loomed and turn Molina, a potential spanner in the works, into his 18th beaten opponent.
Anthony Joshua barely broke a sweat in his third round TKO stoppage of Eric Molina on Saturday. Joshua dominated from the jump, pushing Molina back to the ropes in the opening seconds of the bout and rarely let Molina into the center of the ring for the 8 minutes the two occupied the ring together.
Molina appeared shaken and extremely uncomfortable opposite Joshua from the opening bell, backing himself to the ropes and allowing the IBF heavyweight champion to tee off on him. Joshua, to his credit, looked sharp despite the lack of activity or resistance from his opponent. The champion picked apart Molina’s defense with body shots early and a sharp left jab that did damage in the first two rounds.
A sharp left from Joshua to open the third round pushed Molina back into the corner and from there, it was a matter of time before he could crack him. In the end, it was a vicious right hand that did Molina in, as he was sent sprawling to the canvas in his corner, before getting up and being stopped by the referee after another flurry of punches by Joshua left him slumped over the top rope.
Rob McCracken, who oversaw Joshua’s London 2012 gold medal, was in his corner for the first time in the heavyweight’s pro career but barely had time to offer instructions, as the knockout approached.
Joshua landed a left-right combination as the third began and, with Molina already in survival mode, the champion flattened his challenger with a colossal straight right.
